Method of forming and installing a recessed valve stem



March 18, 1969 3,432,904

METHOD OF FORMING AND INSTALLING A RECESSED VALVE STEM E. STEWART SheetFiled June 29, 1966 Fig.2

3'4 Jesse E. .Sfewari INVENTOR.

March 18, 1969 J. E. STEWART 3,432,904

METHOD OF FORMING AND INSTALLING A RECESSED VALVE STEM Filed June 29,1966 Sheet Z of2 Jesse E. Sfe warf INVENTOR.

3,432,904 METHOD OF FORMING AND INSTALLING A RECESSED VALVE STEM JesseE. Stewart, Watkins, Colo. 80137 Filed June 29, H66, Ser. No. 561,602US. Cl. 29157,1 12 Claims Int. Cl. F16k 15/20 This invention relates toa novel and useful method of forming and installing a recessed valvestem and more specifically to a method of modifying an existing innertube so that it is provided With a recessed valve stem.

Fishermen and swimmers as Well as other persons use inner tubes forsupport in water. However, conventional inner tubes including inwardlyprojecting valve stems constitute a danger to the user in that the valvestem can cause injury to an adjacent body portion of the user.

It is therefore the main object of this invention to provide a means andmethod for modifying a conventional inner tube in a manner such that theinwardly projecting valve stem thereof may be removed, the area of thetube from which the conventional valve stem was supported can be closedby a suitable patch or vulcanizing process. After the inner tube hasbeen modified in this manner, a valve stem assembly enclosed within atubular member defining a recess therefor may be secured to the tube inan operative manner and with the recessed valve stem disposed on anouter peripheral portion of the tube. In this manner, the modified tubeis completely free of projections extending inwardly of the innerperiphery thereof such as a conventionally located valve stem and therelocated valve stem is completely recessed within the outer surfaceportions of the outer periphery of the tube thereby protecting therelocated valve stem from injury.

It is therefore another object of this invention in accordance with theimmediately preceding object, to not only provide a means and method ofrelocating the valve stem assembly of an inner tube from the innerperipheral portion thereof to the outer peripheral portion thereof, butto also provide a means and method for recessing the relocated valvestem within an appropriate outer peripheral portion of the modifiedinner tubev Yet another object of this invention is to provide a methodof constructing a recessed valve stem assembly which may be readilycarried out by the utilization of conventional materials and equipment.

Still another object of this invention, in accordance with theimmediately preceding object, is to provide a recessed valve stemassembly which may be readily secured in any desired location on theouter periphery of an inner tube.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide a means and method of forming and installing a recessed valvestem on an inner tube which will conform to conventional forms ofmanufacture, be of simple construction and easy to carry out so as toprovide a device that will be economically feasible.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an inner tube which has been modifiedin accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the various elements whichare utilized in the assembly of the recessed valve stem assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a completed recessed valve assembly;

3,432,904 Patented Mar. 18, 1969 FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectionalview taken through an assemblage of the various plates utilized duringthe vulcanizing step performed in constructing the recessed valveassembly and with the components of the recessed valve assembly and theinternal tubular bracing member therefor illustrated in position;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of an inner tube illustratingthe manner in which the recessed valve stem assembly is secured to aninner tube in accordance with the present invention and with therecessed valve assembly being shown as seen from the inside of the innertube;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which therecessed valve assembly is held in position during the step ofvulcanizing the valve assembly to an associated inner tube, portions ofthe supporting plates utilized during the vulcanizing process and theinner tube being broken away and illustrated in section; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view taken substantiallyupon a plane indicated by the section line 77 of FIGURE 6.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generallydesignates an inner tube which has been modified in accordance with thepresent invention by the installation of a recessed valve assemblygenerally referred to by the reference numeral 12 thereon.

The inner tube 10, prior to being modified in accordance with thepresent invention, may have been constructed without a valve stem or mayhave been a conventional inner tube including a conventional valve stemassembly projecting inwardly from an inner peripheral portion of theinner tube. However, the inwardly projecting conventional valve stem hasbeen cut out of the inner tube 10 and the void formed in the wall of thetube 10 by the removal of the conventional valve stem has been closed byany convenient method such as by a patch (not shown) or by valcanizingthe opening defining the aforementioned void closed in a conventionalmanner.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG- URES 2-4 of thedrawings, there it may be seen a recessed valve assembly 12 constructedin accordance with the present invention including a rubber mountingannulus 14, a tubular body 16 also constructed of rubber, a conventionedvalve stem assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 18,and a closure annulus 20. The valve stem assembly 18 may consist of avalve stem assembly especially constructed in the configurationillustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings or comprise a conventional valvestem assembly which has been cut from a conventional inner tube, such asthe inner tube 10, in a manner leaving a circular base portion 22 of thetube attached to the base end 24 of the conventional valve assembly 18.In any event, it is preferable that the base end of the valve stemassembly 18 be provided with a radially outwardly projecting baseportion such as the base portion 22.

The tubular body 16 is of a diameter such that its inner diameter issubstantially equal to the diameter of the inner periphery 25 of theannulus 14. The recessed valve assembly 12 is first assembled byinserting the valve stem assembly 18 within the tubular body 16 in themanner illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. Then, a threadedfastener 23 may be threaded upwardly at least partially into the inneror base end of the valve stem assembly 18 to prevent the inner end frombeing vulcanized closed. Then, the disc or annulus 20 is inserted intothe end of the tubular body 16 into abutting engagement with theundersurface of the valve stem assembly 18 with the undersurface of theannulus 20 flush with the lower end edges of the tubular body 16. Then,a metallic sleeve 26 is inserted into the tubular body member with itsfirst inserted end abutting against the shoulder or base portion 22 ofthe valve stem assembly 18 and its other end projecting slightlyoutwardly of the tubular body 16. Thereafter, the annulus 14 is slippedover the end of the sleeve 26 projecting outwardly from the tubular body16. The assembled recessed valve stem assembly 12 is then inserted intothe bore 28 formed through a supporting plate 30 and provided with ashallow countersink 32 at one end. Thereafter, a bottom closure plate 34may be disposed beneath the plate 30 and a top closure plate 36 may bedisposed over the plate 39 so as to completely enclose the assembledrecessed valve assembly between the plates 34 and 36.

Of course, the confronting surfaces of the annulus 20 and the baseportion 22 and the inner surfaces of the tubular body 16 and the outerperipheral edges of the base portion 22 and the annulus 20 as well asthe abutting surfaces of the annulus 14 and the adjacent end of thetubular body 16 may be suitably cleaned and/ or roughened and treated soas to be readily adapted to be vulcanized together. Thereafter, theassemblage illustrated ine FIGURE 4 of the drawings may have sufficientheat applied thereto to cause the rubber portions thereof in contactingengagement with each other to be vulcanized together. Then, thecompleted recessed valve. assembly 12 may be removed from the bore 28.Thereafter, the sleeve 26 may be removed and an opening 40 may be formedin an outer peripheral portion of the tube and a similar opening 42 maybe formed in an opposing inner peripheral portion of the tube 10.Thereafter, the end of the completed recessed valve assembly 12 remotefrom the annulus 14 is first inserted through the opening 40 and thenthrough the opening 42 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 7 of thedrawings.

Thereafter, the two wall portions of the inner tube 10 through which theopenings 40 and 42 are formed may be clamped between a base plate 44 anda plate 46 similar to the plate 30 and having a bore 48 formedtherethrough in which a portion of the completed recessed valve assembly12 projecting through the openings 40 and 42 is received. Thereafter,the assemblage illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7 may be suitably heated soas to vulcanize the surfaces of the annulus 14 and the wall portion ofthe tube 10 through which the opening 40 is formed together. Of course,these opposing surfaces have been previously prepared by being suitablyroughened and coated with any suitable substance to enhance thevulcanizing process. After the completed recessed valve assembly 12 hasbeen vulcanized to the wall portion of the tube 10 through which theopening 40 is formed, the tube 10 with the recessed valve assembly 12vulcanized thereto may be removed from between the plates 44 and 46.Thereafter, the wall portion of the tube 10 through which the opening 42is formed may then be slid off the end of the valve stem assembly remotefrom the annulus 14 and the opening 42 may be closed by conventionalpatching or vulcanizing methods. However, before the completed recessedvalve assembly 12 is vulcanized to the tube 10 or before the opening 42is vulcanized closed, the threaded fastener 23 is removed from the innerend of the valve stem assembly 18.

After the opening 42 has been vulcanized closed, the tube 10 asillustrated in FIGURE 1 is formed and includes the recessed valveassembly 12 secured to an outer peripheral portion thereof and is devoidof a conventional inwardly projecting valve stem. assembly carried byits inner periphery.

The plates 30 and 46 as well as the corresponding plates 34, 36 and 44,respectively, may be of such size and the plates 30 and 46 may include aplurality of openings or bores 28 and 48, respectively, enabling largenumbers of valve assemblies 12 to be formed in a single vulcanizingoperation and corresponding large numbers of valve assemblies 12 to bevulcanized to inner tubes 10 in a single vulcanizing step. Further, theinner tubes 10, in addition to being adapted for use on water, may beutilized on snow in conjunction with the more recently popular snowtubing sport and the tubes 10 may still further be utilized, after beingslightly modified appropriately, as simple trampolines.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. The method of forming a recessed valve stem comprising the steps ofcutting a valve stem assembly from an inner tube by forming a generallycircular cut in the tube about and spaced at least slightly outwardly ofthe base end of the assembly thereby removing the assembly from the tubewith a generally circular portion of said tube remaining attached tosaid assembly as a base therefor, positioning said valve assembly withina tubular member with said base disposed in one end portion of saidtubular member and said assembly projecting toward the other end of saidtubular member, and securing said base in said one end portion of saidtube in fluid-tight sealed engagement therewith with said assembly atleast substantially entirely enclosed within the confines of saidtubular member.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said tubular member is constructed ofrubber and the step of securing said base in said one end portion ofsaid tubular member comprises the step of vulcanizing said base to saidtubular member.

3. The method of claim 2 including the step of placing a disc of rubberin said one end portion of said tubular member outwardly of said baseprior to the vulcanizing step, said vulcanizing step including the stepof simultaneously vulcanizing said disc and base to said tubular memberand said disc to said base.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said vulcanizing step includes the stepof vulcanizing outer peripheral portions of the face of said discopposing said base to the end edge portions of said one end portion ofsaid tubular 1 member and vulcanizing the outer peripheral edge of saidbase to the inner peripheral edge portions of said tubular memberimmediately adjacent said end edge portions of said tubular member.

5. The method of claim 4 including the step of threading a threadedshank portion of a headed fastener in the end of said assembly fromwhich said base is supported prior to the step of positioning said discagainst said base, and rupturing said disc in the area registered withsaid fastener after the vulcanizing step and then backing said fasteneroutwardly of the last-mentioned end of said assembly through theruptured portion of said disc.

6. The method of claim 1 including the step of securing the portions ofa panel-like rubber annulus defining the inner periphery thereof to saidother end portion of said tubular member.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said tubular member is constructed ofrubber and the last-mentioned step includes the step of vulcanizing saidannulus to said other end portion of said tubular member with saidtubular member being free of portions thereof projecting outwardly ofthe side of said annulus remote from said one end of said tubularmember.

8. The method of claim 1 including the step of securing the portions ofa panel-like rubber annulus defining the inner periphery thereof to saidother end portion of said tubular member, inserting the end of saidannulus through an opening formed in a wall portion of an inner tubefrom the exterior of the latter with the surface of said annulus facingsaid one end of said tubular member overlying the outer surface portionsof said wall portion disposed about the opening therein, and securingsaid annulus to said outer surface portions in fluid-tight sealedengagement therewith 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step ofsecuring said annulus to said outer surface portions includes the stepof vulcanizing said annulus to said outer surface portions.

10. The method of claim 9 including the step of placing a disc of rubberin said one end portion of said tubular member outwardly of said baseprior to the vulcanizing step, said vulcanizing step including the stepof simultaneously vulcanizing said disc and base to said tubular memberand said disc to said base.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said vulcanizing step includes thestep of vulcanizing outer peripheral portions of the face of said discopposing said base to the end edge portions of said one end portion ofsaid tubular member and vulcanizing the outer peripheral edge of saidbase to the inner peripheral edge portions of said tubular memberimmediately adjacent said end edge portions of said tubular member.

12. The method of claim 11 including the step of threading a threadedshank portion of a headed fastener in the end of said assembly fromwhich said base is supported prior to the step of positioning said discagainst said base, and rupturing said disc in the area registered withsaid fastener after the vulcanizing step and then backing said fasteneroutwardly of the last-mentioned end of said assembly through theruptured portion of said disc.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,930,040 10/ 1933 Crowley137-223 2,194,895 3/1940 Gora 137-223 2,219,190 10/1940 McCoy 137-223WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner. DENNIS H. LAMBERT, AssistantExaminer.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 137-223; 46-90

1. THE METHOD OF FORMING A RECESSED VALVE STEM COMPRISING THE STEPS OFCUTTING A VALVE STEM ASSEMBLY FROM AN INNER TUBE BY FORMING A GENERALLYCIRCULAR CUT IN THE TUBE ABOUT AND SPACED AT LEAST SLIGHTLY OUTWARDLY OFTHE BASE END OF THE ASSEMBLY THEREBY REMOVING THE ASSEMBLY FROM THE TUBEWITH A GENERALLY CIRCULAR PORTION OF SAID TUBE REMAINING ATTACHED TOSAID ASSEMBLY AS A BASE THEREFOR, POSITIONING SAID VALVE ASSEMBLY WITHINA TUBULAR MEMBER WITH SAID BASE DISPOSED IN ONE END PORTION OF THE OTHEREND OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, AND SECURING SAID BASE IN SAID ONE ENDPORTION OF SAID TUBE IN FLUID-TIGHT SEALED ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH WITHSAID ASSEMBLY AT LEAST SUBSTANTIALLY ENTIRELY ENCLOSED WITHIN THECONFINES OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER.